Our Latest Posts About: Tips

Are you using the right power cords?

Choosing the right power cord is something many people take for granted. After all, if your tools turn on when you plug them in, doesn't that mean it's okay? Not quite.

Here's what you need to know. Some power tools require a lot of power, and although they'll turn on using just about any cord, that doesn't mean it's a good fit.

When you use an extension cord that's too thin, it puts a strain on the cord itself. As it heats up, it's not only a safety hazard, but your tools won't work right. This is especially true of tools like drills, vacuum cleaners, lawn mowers, and just about anything with a motor because the motors won't spin as fast as they should.

Keep in mind, length is another huge factor. The longer the extension cor... [More]

Divide and Conquer, like a programmer.

If I gave you a deck of cards and asked you to sort them from low to high card, how would you do it? Most non-programmers fan out the cards and proceed to move cards forward and back until things finally come together. While that will get the job done, it's not the fastest way to do it.

What programmers do is try to split whatever we're trying to sort into smaller sections, then sort each section one by one, and finally merge the sections at the end. For example, by splitting a deck of cards into two piles of 26, or 4 piles of 13, each of the piles will take a fraction of the time to sort because you'll be doing fewer comparisons to determine the positions of each individual card.

If you lost your wallet today, would you remember what was in it?

Losing your wallet can be a real pain in the neck. You need to contact all your banks and credit card companies to get replacement cards and that's not easy if you don't remember what's missing.

One solution is to periodically take inventory of all your cards. It could be as simple as writing down all your card numbers along with the customer service phone numbers written on the back. If you don't like writing, you can make photocopies, scans, or simply take photos of the front and back of each card.

Once you've gathered the information, put it in a safe place and update it whenever you add or remove a card. If you lose your wallet, you'll have all your information in one place, making it easy to get repl... [More]

Why do so many people risk their lives changing tires on busy highways and bridges?

The other day I saw somebody in the middle of a bridge changing a flat tire. Can you imagine that? Right in the middle of a bridge! Why on earth would anyone do that?

As I passed the driver, dozens of questions rolled through my mind. When did he notice the flat? Didn't he notice it before getting on the bridge? Did he think something bad would happen if he waited until he reached the other side? Doesn't he realize he could get killed doing this?

Simply stated, you should never change your tire on an active roadway... Ever. The safest thing to do is to slow down, turn on your hazards and slowly drive until you reach a safe place, preferably off the highway and away from busy traffic.... [More]

Here's a quick and easy way to hide text without using encryption.

The best way to hide something you've written is to use some kind of encryption password, but some programs don't have a way to do it.

Once you've finished writing your text, look for an option to select all the text, then go to the font menu and select a font that contains symbols instead of letters, such as "WingDings", "Dingbats" or "Symbols". That's all there is to it. Your text is no longer readable.

Next time you load the file, the text will remain hidden until to reverse the steps by selecting all the text again, then selecting a regular font.

While this isn't as secure as a real encryption password, it at least gives you a way to hide text in programs that don't have an encryption option.

Use this quick tip whenever you want to insure that whatever you cross out is hard to read.

Most of the time, whenever you cross something out, it's pretty easy for somebody to figure out what you originally wrote. Lines make terrible camouflage because your mind can clearly see the patterns of the letters.

The solution is to take advantage of your mind's desire to see letter patterns, by creating additional letter patterns right on top of the old ones. Even if you simply wrote out the alphabet over your old text, it would be drastically more effective than crossing it out.

To make it even harder, try mixing up letters instead of just writing the alphabet, or writing other words at random.

Have you ever locked yourself out of your own house?

Although it's rare, getting locked out of your own home can be a real pain in the neck, especially if the weather is bad and you're stuck sitting outside your own house waiting for somebody else to unlock the door.

The solution is pretty simple. Give a spare key to a trusted neighbor or hide an extra key somewhere outside the house. This is not only useful for those times when you lock yourself out, it's also useful for occasions where you can't get home, and you need to let somebody else in to feed your pets or walk your dog.

Before you fall in love with the latest gadget, ask yourself: "Where will it go?"

Eliminating clutter isn't easy, especially if you keep acquiring new stuff to replace the stuff you get rid of, so you need to spend just as much effort on making sure you don't add to your mess as you do cleaning it up.

It's like taking one step forward, and two steps back. Your objective is to have LESS stuff, not more, so it's essential to resist the urge to bring in new items unless it's absolutely necessary. In fact, even if you find something new that is actually useful, you still need to ask yourself "Where will it go?", because even a useful item will only add to your clutter if you don't have a place for it.

If you're having a hard time eliminating clutter, one of the best things you can do is find something you really love, and get rid of it.

One of my most popular posts in the "Pre-Video Blog" days was a little post about getting rid of your favorite shirt, so I decided to re-visit the subject in video form so that YouTube subscribers can see it too.

Although it sounds like a simple idea, for somebody who has a history of collecting clutter, it's actually harder than you think, especially since the clutter is a direct result of having a hard time throwing things away.

Although some people might suggest throwing away a few worthless items as a starting point, it's actually a lot easier if you start with getting rid of things you really love first. The more you love it, the be... [More]

A new way to think about Flash Drives.

Until a few years ago, I needed to bring my laptop with me whenever I went to see a client. At the time, this was the only practical way for me to have full access to my files in the field. Prior to that, it was even harder, because I had to bring backups of the files with me, then merge any changes and additions with the ones on my desktop computer. It was a real pain in the neck.

Thankfully, as USB Flash Drives got bigger and faster, I found an easier solution; I started using them as my PRIMARY STORAGE. This means that instead of using flash drives as a backup of my data, I use them as the main location of my files.

This means that at any given time, I have the newest version of all my important files right in my pocket. It als... [More]

Sometimes "Complex Passwords" are essential. Sometimes they're not.

Strong Passwords are the kinds of passwords that are designed to be harder to guess because they're longer, and require you to use a mixture of capital letters, numbers and even punctuation characters.

Since Strong Passwords are designed to protect you from bad guys, you may be wondering why I'm telling you how dangerous they can be. For this that hold personal or financial information, a Strong Password is essential. In fact, I think those kinds of sites not only should have Strong Passwords, they should also require a 2-step verification that sends validation codes via your phone.

My problem isn't with those kinds of sites. I have a big problem with sites that don't hold private information that ask y... [More]

My water bill was costing me up to $11 per day, until I realized how small leaks can make a big difference.

When I originally wrote about how some people are literally throwing money down the drain in 2014, I never thought it would turn out to be one of the most popular posts on the site. I think the reason it was so popular is that it surprises so many people how important it is to fix small leaks as soon as possible.

Hey Everyone... I'm on Social Media!

I've got news for you, Sparky. So is everyone else.

Everywhere you look, you see Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram logos. Why? I've talked about this before in another post, but here's another video with a slightly different spin. Somehow companies think they've got to put social media logos on everything, just to show everyone that they're hip.

It makes you wonder if they're actually expecting you to look for their social media pages, or they're just afraid that they'll look out of touch if they don't flaunt the fact that they're on social media.

Some companies have no idea how social media works.

The other day I went to Staples to buy a ream of paper. As I grabbed the package, I couldn't help but notice they put social media icons for Facebook, Twitter and Instagram on the front. Why bother? Do they think that people in the store are going to run right home and search for them so they can follow them? It's pointless.

I see this sort of behavior is all over the place. There are Facebook logos on menus, store windows, packages, print ads and even billboards. What the heck is that for? Why bother showing social media logos without even using a caption telling people their official social media account names?

Are they doing this because they want everyone to know how cool they are?

It's as if they're sayin

Blurry photos look creepy!

They say you should never judge a book by it's cover, but when I look at the photos some people use in their online profiles, I have to wonder if they realize how many people are basing their opinions on their poor choice of photos.

Thanks to SmartPhones, just about everyone has thousands of digital photos to choose from as their profile photo, so you have to wonder why some people pick blurry photos with poor lighting as the one photo that is supposed to represent them online.

It goes beyond blurry photos. Some people use photos that are just plain awful.

For example, with thousands of photos to choose from, why pick photos of yourself pouring beer on your head at a frat party? Or photos that look like a mugshot?

Maybe we should call them "Away Screens"

One of the strangest things about today's computers is that they still have "Screen Savers" even though they don't have anything to do with saving your screen.

Other than taking up space, looking cute, slowing down your computer, and wasting electricity, they don't do anything at all.

It wasn't always that way. There was a time when Screen Savers were an absolute necessity because in the early days of computing, one of the biggest problems was that screens were easily damaged whenever the same image was displayed for a long period of time.

If an image remained in the same spot too long, the coating would wear out unevenly, leaving behind a burned in image where the image used to be. Eventually programmers realized that the... [More]

Don't you hate putting your laundry back into your luggage?

Sometimes when I travel, I make a trip to Wal-Mart for fresh underwear and socks. I don't take them with me. The new ones are to replace the ones I plan to throw out on my trip. This not only gives me some extra space in my luggage when I return, but it keeps everything fresh. As a bonus, I've got new ones waiting for me when I get home.

While this may sound unusual to some people, I've heard similar stories from other people. For example, some people like to use a local laundromat before the return trip. In either case, the objective is the same, keeping your dirty socks and underwear out of your luggage.

Taken to the next level, wouldn't it be great to just bring along disposable socks and underwear?

I love Baking Soda... I just hate packaging.

Boxes and bags are fine for situations where you need to pour out a lot at once, but whenever you need just a little, the box gets in the way. For example if you want just a little bit to brush your teeth or freshen your toothbrush, shaking some out of the box makes a mess, and often causes you to pour out too much.

The same is true for using it as an antacid, where you need a teaspoon or less. It's a pain in the neck getting just the right amount out of a box without getting too much and spilling it all over the place.

I gave up on looking for Baking Soda in more convenient packaging, so I decided to use a sugar dispenser.

Another benefit of a dispenser is that you can store it right where you need it and never make a... [More]

Love egg salad... but hate the wait?

Although there are a number of ways to make egg salad, just about all of them involve boiling water and waiting for the eggs to turn hard. One day, I decided to save some time and try something different, so I just scrambled the eggs instead. You know what? It was pretty good.

While I can't say it had the exact same taste, it wasn't that different. The main difference in the taste comes from the butter I used to fry them. I happened to like the butter, but you could eliminate that difference by using PAM or a non-stick pan. The texture was a bit softer, but if you cook them a little longer, it's pretty close.

So what started out as simply a time saver turned into a pretty good meal regardless of the time. This made me think about... [More]

Does your resume show that you are a team player?

The biggest mistake people make on their resume is spending too much time talking about themself, while neglecting their team experiences.

I get a kick out of some of the resumes I've read over the years. Some of them make you think the applicant is some kind of superhero that did all the work in their previous job on their own.

Don't they realize that employers want team players, not Lone Wolves? The most important thing on your resume is proof that you fit into a team, their team. Employers need Servant Leaders who roll up their sleeves and work together with a team.

Obviously, it's your resume, so it's only natural to include details about your education and experience, but unless you're looking for a job in a bubbl... [More]

The most successful ideas are the direct result of somebody who decided to fix a problem.

When it comes to problems, there are two groups of people, those who complain about them, and those who fix them. Both groups see the problem, but only the second group sees the opportunity that comes from fixing it.

The world is full of countless problems, so there are countless opportunities to achieve success by fixing them.

Over 100 years ago, baseball was played without gloves. One day a player put on a glove, making it easier and more comfortable to catch the ball. Although many people laughed at him, another player, Albert Spalding took the idea of a baseball glove seriously and he designed a glove specifically for baseball players. Spalding's company is still a major prod... [More]

Having trouble finding new ideas? Try setting limits.

As strange as it sounds, one of the best ways to come up with breakthroughs is to limit your options as much as possible, because some of the best ideas come from closed minded thinking, not from thinking out of the box.

Your brain can only process so many things at one time, so by setting limits, you actually make it easier to make decisions, which not only leads to more ideas, but better ideas.

If I asked you to invent something, how long would it take you to come up with an idea? That's a pretty open ended question, so there's no way to know exactly how long it would take, or how good your invention would be.

However, let's say I asked you to invent something by 3pm, would that make it easier? Believe it or no... [More]

Why do Silica Gel packets say "Throw Away", when they're so useful?

There are a lot of products today that are shipped with Silica Gel packets inside the box that say "Silica Gel - THROW AWAY- DO NOT EAT" on the wrapper. The main purpose these packets is to absorb moisture, so they keep whatever they are shipping dry, which is especially important when shipping electronics.

Since they look a lot like a packet of sugar, I can understand why they write "DO NOT EAT" on the side, but there's no reason why they also say "THROW AWAY" too, especially since they're so handy around the house. I've been saving them for years to keep things like tools, cameras and other things free of humidity, and I never run out of places to use them.

Everyone knows you shouldn't text and drive... Texting while walking is just as dangerous.

Recently I saw a guy walking down the street while he was crossing the street. While that doesn't sound surprising, you may be surprised to hear that each year nearly 10 percent of all Emergency Room visits are cell phone related, and a large number of those are from people who weren't driving a car. They were walking.

Injuries include everything from minor bumps and scratches caused by simply tripping, or bumping into people or objects, to more serious injuries or even death from falls or walking into traffic.

This only paints part of the picture, because when asked, most people will not admit that they were texting at the time of the accident. If you think of it, if a doctor aske... [More]

I thought everyone knew that a frying pan was one of the best ways to re-heat pizza.

Did you know that heating leftover pizza in a frying pan is one of the best ways to re-capture that oven-fresh taste?

It's pretty simple. Just pre-heat your pan, add your pizza, then put a cover on it to let the heat reach the top. In a few minutes the cheese on top will start to melt and you're good to go. The crust will be nice and crunchy and the bread will taste nice and fresh. In some cases, you can add a touch of water or olive oil, but in most cases the pizza can go right into the pan.

If your pizza is particularly thick, you may want to give it a quick zap in the microwave before putting it in the pan, just to get rid of the chill, but not too long, because microwave ovens tend... [More]

If you want people to understand what you say, be sure to pay attention to your other senses, especially sight.

If I said, "DON'T think of a duck", it is nearly impossible to NOT think of a duck because the human mind must first see the duck before it can process the command telling you not to see it. That's pretty cool.

In another twist, if you looked at a photo of a beach, with a caption that says "Think Snow" in big letters, your mind will actually have a hard time thinking about snow, even though it's clearly written.

Scientists took a deck of white cards with color names written on them, and timed how long people take to identify the colors written on them. They then compared it to the time it takes to go through the same number of cards, except this time they color... [More]

A few years ago, I got a set of towels from Ikea with loops sewn-in for easy hanging. It blew my mind.

Once in a while, something very simple hits you in the face and reminds you how there's always room to improve just about everything. For years, I would hang my towel on a hook behind my door, without thinking there would was a better way.

I like to use a big towel, so I had to tinker quite a bit to make sure it didn't fall off the hook. Eventually, I started putting the towel on a regular hanger, then put the hanger on the hook.

Then I brought home those Ikea towels with a funny name and wondered how on earth I managed without them. I was able to get rid of the clothing hanger, and simply hang my towel using the sewn-in loop, directly on the hook. Imagine that. Ju... [More]

We have two ears, but only one mouth. There's a reason for that.

It's a classic cliche. The Barker with a megaphone in his hand, telling everyone that he's got the greatest thing since sliced bread.

Very few companies use Megaphones and Barkers anymore, but sometimes it seems like they still use the same techniques to communicate with their customers. Instead of standing on soapboxes with megaphones, they send out emails and press releases, and hold big events to shout to the world about how great they are, but they don't seem to listen to customers anymore.

When social media came along, a lot of companies simply shouted the same messages in worthless blasts designed to wow their customers. They sprinkle in a few clever jokes, photos and videos and they think they've mas... [More]

Aren't humidors designed to keep cigars MOIST?

Yes. But they are also great at keeping things dry... With a minor change.

Have you ever noticed that many electronic gadgets come packed with packets of Silica Gel? There's a reason for that. Keeping your electronic gadgets dry extends their lifespan. Moisture causes some of the metals to oxidize and corrode, so when they ship things, the Silica Gel absorbs any moisture they pick up along the way. Once you get the item home, you're on your own.

About 10 years ago, I was given a humidor as a gift. It's a fine crafted wooden box with a humidity indicator and a small device to keep cigars from drying out. It sat on a shelf for years until I suddenly realized, this thing is is perfect for keeping my backup hard drives DRY.... [More]

I'm a science geek, but sometimes I ignore some of the basics.

Based on that, it's obvious why so many people grab the bleach when we clean up after our pets. The trouble with that it leaves out two very important scientific facts.

1. Urine contains ammonia.2. You should never mix bleach and ammonia, because it produces toxic fumes.

Most people know you can't mix ammonia with bleach, and most people know urine contains ammonia, but even with those facts, I've been guilty of cleaning cat boxes and pet accidents with bleach. Sometimes the fumes from the reaction were enough to make me wheeze and cough like crazy as my eyes wate... [More]

Sometimes the best ideas come from combining two or more simple ideas into something that is better than the sum of the parts. The trick is finding things that actually work together well. So when you hit a dead end, think of Fusion!

Examples of Great Fusion

1. iPhone - Combines a phone, and iPod and and Internet device.

While each of these devices already existed, Apple reinvented the phone by integrating them into a single portable device.

2. Fax Machines

At it's core, the Fax machine is just the combination of a copier and a modem. You can take it one step further and say that a copier is just the combination of a scanner and a printer. Now that many peopl... [More]

A couple of years ago, I decided to change the flapper in one of my toilets, because I could hear what sounded like a very slight hissing sound, that I thought might be a leak. It was barely noticeable. You could only hear it if there was complete silence, and you were very close to it. It didn't seem important, so I ignored it for several weeks before I decided to get the new flapper.

Coincidentally that particular week, New York City created a feature that lets you monitor your water usage in real time from their web site. I popped onto the site and I couldn't believe what I saw, in a graph showing my day-by-day usage.

That TINY leak was actually costing me $11 a day

In the graph, I could see my typical water usage climb each day, then suddenly drop to a fraction of tha... [More]

Dry off your blades right after you use them, and keep them away from water as much as possible.

Believe it or not, what causes the most damage to your blade isn't just regular wear and tear, but oxidation of the blades due to moisture. Any moisture that remains on your blade after you shave is slowly eating away the edge.

3 easy ways to keep moisture from your blades, and extend their lifespan.

1. Right after shaving, shake as much water off the blade as possible. You'll be surprised at how much water is wedged inside today's multi-blade cartridges. If you tap it on the edge, avoid hitting the blades, or you'll damage the blades or whatever you hit.

As the Boy Scouts say, "Be Prepared". Here are 5 things that every dog owner should bring along whenever you walk your dog.

1. TWO "Poop Bag" dispensers... with TWO rolls of poop bags.

Why? There is no worse feeling than running out of poop bags mid-way through a walk. If you have only one poop bag dispenser, and Fido has a particularly productive walk, you can miscalculate how many bags remain and find yourself short. Without a second (standby) dispenser, you are forced to re-open the one you started. That's not only messy and smelly, but in some cases you are literally trying to jam 2 pounds of poop into a 1 pound bag. Play it safe, bring a second roll and dispenser.

* Note: The ideas on "Idea of the Day" were posted without any formal research into existing inventions.

In some cases, patents may already exist for these ideas, in other cases, there may not be any existing patents and you are free to develop and explore the viability of developing and patenting the ideas.

The authors make no claim that any of the ideas are safe, practical, or suitable for any particular purpose. You are responsible for the results of trying, developing, patenting or using any of the ideas on this site.

For some people, our ideas are just an interesting read, but our goal is to encourage you to take action. If you see an idea that you like, do something with it... Take action.